Although the School of Music’s annual spring percussion ensemble concert usually kicks off the Wichita Jazz Festival, this year it’s an official closer at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, in Miller Concert Hall.

The concert will still be its usual rocking and rollicking event and might even excuse the cliche that it will “shake, rattle and roll.” That’s because one of the guest artists will be maraca virtuoso Ed Harrison, said Jerry Scholl, assistant professor and director of percussion in the School of Music.

“This musician’s abilities on maracas are jaw-dropping,” said Scholl. “He has transcended an instrument primarily known as a type of shaker into a rhythm section and musical color all on its own.”

The percussion ensemble is performing the world premiere of “Teppa,” written for solo Maracas and percussion by Bulgarian composer George Tantchev.

Tantchev’s “Teppa” is named for the virtuosic Venezuelan “Maraquero” Maximo Briceno Teppa who was Harrison’s maraca teacher in Venezuela. Tantchev, in his notes on composing “Teppa,” wrote:

“Ed's idea for an entertaining and rhythmically diverse composition featuring maracas as a solo instrument came naturally in our conversations. His virtuosic playing convinced me as a composer and percussionist that there were no limitations on what I could write.”

“It’s an incredible opportunity for both Wichita State University and the students,” Scholl said of the “Teppa” premiere.

In addition, Scholl said this concert will mark the first time the WSU percussion ensemble and Afro Cuban Ensemble collaborates with the Wichita Contemporary Dance Theatre, a student troupe from the School of Performing Arts. They’ll join the percussionists on stage in a presentation of salsa music made popular by Gloria Estefan.

Janet Cramer, a WSU alumna who is a nationally recognized Latin percussionist, will be the guest soloist on the salsa pieces.

The concert will also feature professor of bassoon Nicolasa Kuster and the WSU bassoon studio as they perform “Voice for Bassoon and Percussion.”

For tickets, $6 with discounts available, call the College of Fine Arts Box Office at (316) 978-3233.